Those poor Bolton defenders didn’t. Talk about being in the line of fire.

Barely five minutes had passed and Bolton’s three centre-halves and two wing-backs looked like they’d rather be anywhere else in the world than at the Riverside trying to deal with Fabbrini’s trickery, Adomah’s direct running, Downing’s class and Kike’s strength and movement.

Hard to believe it was the same team who looked void of ideas in the final third at Preston last Sunday.

Neil Lennon didn’t complain. He took responsibility for the defeat, admitting he got the system all wrong. One can’t imagine he will have been quite as philosophical when Bolton’s sorry players trudged into the dressing room at the break.

They even struggled to make an impact on the game when Boro were down to 10 men: Albert Adomah sprawled out on the touchline as though he was at home on his sofa watching it on the box while referee James Adcock petulantly refused to let him return to the field of play.

But Boro would have battered any side in the division in that dazzling first half yesterday. Here’s what we learnt from the win over Bolton:

AK’s selection justified

There was a slight rumble of discontent when Aitor Karanka named his starting XI yesterday.

Kike, the man who endured such a frustrating time at Deepdale last week, preferred to two-goal Cristhian Stuani and new boy David Nugent.

Kike was forced to feed off scraps last week while Stuani had the pleasure of a Michelin Star meal in terms of service on Wednesday night.

As did Kike yesterday, fed on a golden platter thanks to the brilliance of Downing, Fabbrini and Adomah playing in-behind.

Kike celebrates after scoring against Bolton

He took his first goal well, coolly slotting it underneath the onrushing Amos with his weaker left foot and was in the right place at the right time to tap home a second.

That’s four goals in his last four starts. It’s no surprise there’s a clamour to see the new lads start but Kike must surely lead the line again at Derby on Tuesday night?

He didn’t set the world alight in the second half yesterday but his clinical showing in the opening 45 was an excellent reaction to the fact he would have glanced over at the bench to see two strikers desperate to be out on the pitch in his very position.

Kike celebrates against Bolton

For Bolton’s defenders, it must have been soul-destroying to glance over at the bench to see who would be coming on if the players who were currently giving them a headache were replaced.

Kike was clinical, Fabbrini was quite simply magical. It would be naive to think the Italian can perform to that standard week in, week out. If he could, he’d be plying a trade in the Premier League right now.

But what a shrewd bit of business that could turn out to be.

Aitor Karanka’s selection against Bolton was justified.

Setting up to stifle Boro doesn’t always work

What a relief.

The bore-draw at Preston last week was a slightly concerning indication of what Boro can come to expect this season: opposition with a game plan to stifle Boro’s attacking intent and upset the rhythm of the game.

John Welsh showed it could be done, attaching an invisible cord to Stewie before kick-off.

Jay Spearing and Neil Danns showed it’s not necessarily as easy at it looks. So much so, Spearing, a former Liverpool midfielder, was hauled off at the break after struggling to get to grips with Fabbrini and Downing’s interplay.

Bolton were never going to come to the Riverside full of attacking purpose. That expectation was verified when the teamsheet dropped to find that Emile Heskey was the only recognised striker in the Bolton XI.

Bolton manager Neil Lennon

A Bolton XI which included five defenders as well as Spearing and Danns tasked with the role of firefighters in the defensive midfield role.

Had the opportunity presented itself, you get the feeling Lennon would have asked the coach driver to execute a parallel park into the six yard box. Saying that, Fabbrini would still have found a way to goal.

Boro showed that they can break down a side who are set up to defend. That’s promising, because that’s how most teams will set up at the Riverside this season.

The Championship is at it already

Brentford chairman Matthew Benham made his money from being a shrewd gambler. You can’t imagine he’d have considered backing his side, fifth favourites to win the Championship, to go up after a worrying start to the new season.

But then they go and smash four at Bristol City.

Derby were joint favourites to win the title before yesterday’s round of games, yet they’ve now gone three matches without a win with Paul Clement in charge after only managing a draw against Charlton, a side widely tipped for a season of struggle.

And then we look up to see the only side above Boro in the table are Brighton, a team who finished two places and six and points above the drop zone last year.

We’re two games into the new season but there are already enough hints that nothing will change: the Championship will be the Championship that we’ve become accustomed to over the past few years - stacked with unpredictable and head-scratching results.

Such an anomaly never ever looked on the cards at the Riverside as Boro and Bolton were leagues apart.

It was the kind of professional result, particularly at home, that will be a must this season.

Despite Derby’s wobbly start, Boro’s first true test of the season will come at the iPro on Tuesday night.